The Web has been abuzz the past week with the expected announcement from Microsoft about Windows Mobile 5. The Microsoft Mobile and Embedded Developer Conference (MEDC) opens today in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. The new OS, code-named Magneto, is reportedly set to be unveiled.

There have been a variety of news leaks over the past several months describing improvements over Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition. Both Pocket Word and Pocket Excel are expected to be revised and Pocket Internet Explorer will offer Security Zones. It apparently merges the Pocket PC and Smartphone versions of Windows Mobile onto one platform. Key apps to be Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile and Outlook Mobile.

Further noise on the Internet has Windows Mobile 2005 challenging RIM's BlackBerry in a major way. The past few days have seen an increase in BlackBerry related hype prior to MEDC. RIM has to be taking notice of Magneto's reported "push technology" using Exchange 2003 Server Pack 2.

For a review of the new Windows Mobile OS, check out Mobile-Review's story including photos of the OS as viewed on the Qtek 2020.